-5u  Y.L 

UNIVERSITY  OF  OREGON  BULLETIN 

New  Series.  SEPTEMBER,  1913.  Vol.  XI,  No.  2 


A POPULAR 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COMMON 
OREGON  FERNS 


A Contribution  from  the  Herbarium  of  the 
University  of  Oregon 


Published  monthly  by  the  University  of  Oregon,  and  entered  at  the  post- 
office  in  Eugene,  Oregon,  as  second-class  matter. 


A POPULAR 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COMMON 
OREGON  FERNS 


A Contribution  from  the  Herbarium  of  the 
University  of  Oregon 


Salem,  Oregon  : 

State  Printing  Department 
1913 


GRAPE  FERN.  (Botrychium  virginianum)  GRAPE  FERN.  (Botrychium  silaifolium) 


A Popular  Description  of  the  Common  Oregon  Ferns 


FOREWORD. 

The  systematic  descriptions  are  taken  largely  from  a thesis 
presented  in  1910  for  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  by  Hannah 
Maude  Kenworthy. 

The  pen  and  ink  drawings  were  done  by  Ruth  M.  Howell,  assist- 
ant in  the  Department  of  Botany,  University  of  Oregon. 

The  planning  and  editing  and  the  making  of  the  photographs 
were  the  work  of  Albert  Raddin  Sweetser,  the  head  of  the  Botanical 
Department. 

DESCRIPTION. 

While  the  plan  is  to  produce  a popular  bulletin  and  scientific 
terms  will  be  sparingly  used,  yet  it  will  be  necessary  to  employ  a 
few  in  the  descriptions. 

The  parts  of  the  fern  are  the  leaf  or  frond;  the  leaf-stalk  or 
stipe;  the  underground  portion,  the  stem  or  rhizome,  and  the  fine 
fiber-like  roots.  In  our  ferns  all  the  part  above  ground  is  frond 
and  stipe,  although  in  some  cases  these  attain  great  size. 

If  the  frond  is  divided  into  distinct  portions,  each  is  called  a 
pinna.  When  the  pinnae  occur  in  two  rows,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  continuation  of  the  stipe,  such  an  arrangement  is  called  pinnate 
and  the  continuation  of  the  stipe  rachis.  Example:  the  Sword  Fern. 

Should  the  divisions  not  extend  to  the  rachis,  although  they  may 
approximate  very  closely  to  it,  such  a condition  would  be  designated 
as  pinnatifid. 

If  the  pinnae  are  again  completely  divided  each  division  is  called 
a pinnule  and  the  frond  is  said  to  be  twice  pinnately  compound. 
Examole:  Athyrium,  Lady  Fern. 

When  the  pinnules  are  completely  divided  the  frond  is  said  to 
be  thrice  pinnate  or  ternate.  Example:  Pteris,  or  Common  Brake. 

Various  combinations  may  occur;  e.  g.,  a frond  may  be  once 
pinnate  but  the  pinnae  only  partly  divided  or  pinnatifid. 

The  maidenhair  presents  a peculiar  case  of  division  by  equal 
forking,  two  or  more  times,  repeated  but  the  ultimate  pinnules  have 
a pinnate  arrangement. 

NON-SEXUAL  REPRODUCTION. 

On  the  back  of  the  frond,  or  on  specially  modified  fronds,  at 
certain  seasons  may  be  found  the  fruit  dots  or  sori.  If  a sorus  is 
examined  with  a hand  magnifying  glass  it  will  be  found  to  consist 
of  a cluster  of  small  sacks  ( sporangia ) containing  spores.  The 
spores  serve  something  the  purpose  of  the  seeds  of  the  higher  plants 
but  are  markedly  different  in  structure. 

The  sorus  may  be  destitute  of  any  covering  or  may  be  provided 
with  an  indusium.  This  usually  covers  the  sorus,  though  in  some 
cases  it  is  beneath  it.  The  peculiarities  of  the  indusium  are  made 
use  of  in  classifying  the  ferns. 

A concrete  example  will  make  all  the  points  clearer.  Plate  I, 
Fig.  A,  shows  the  back  of  the  tip  of  our  common  brake  or  pteris. 
On  open  poor  ground  it  is  often  less  than  a foot  in  height  while  in 
damp  woods  with  rich  soil  the  leaves  are  often  twelve  to  fourteen 
feet.  If  we  imagine  a section  cut  across  the  leaf  in  the  direction 
(ab)  and  examined  on  end  with  the  low  power  of  a microscope  it 
would  appear  as  in  Fig.  B. 


4 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


We  should  notice  the  mid  rib  (m),  the  indusium  formed  by  the 
curling  over  of  the  margin  of  the  leaf,  and  under  the  indusium 
the  sporangia. 

Fig.  C is  a drawing  of  a sporangium  enlarged.  It  consists  of  a 
stalk  (s),  carrying  at  its  end  a sort  of  sack  whose  covering  is  a 
single  layer  of  plate-like  cells.  On  one  edge  is  a row  of  cells  with 
thick  walls,  annulus  (an) . On  the  opposite  edge  a few  thin  walled 
cells  which  separate  easily,  forming  an  opening  (m),  the  mouth. 
Within  the  sporangium  are  the  spores.  As  the  sporangium  dries, 
contraction  takes  place  and  the  point  (m)  being  weakest  a break 
takes  place  opening  the  mouth.  At  the  same  time  the  annulus 
straightens  with  more  or  less  of  a snap,  scattering  the  spores  to 
some  distance. 

If  the  spores  meet  with  favorable  conditions  they  germinate. 
Plate  II  illustrates  a number  of  stages  of  this  growth.  At  first  the 
spore  sends  out  a little  root  (r)  and  a short  chain  of  cells  (p). 
These  continue  to  differentiate,  becoming  flat  and  leaf-like,  Fig.  F. 
This  leaf-like  form  is  known  as  a prothallus  and  often  is  a quarter 
of  an  inch  or  more  across.  The  spore  disappears,  the  prothallus 
becomes  attached  by  little  root-like  outgrowths  and  on  its  under 
side  develops  bottle-shaped  egg  cases  containing  a single  egg  each, 
and  spherical  sperm  cases  containing  numerous  sperms  which  have 
the  power  of  locomotion  by  means  of  vibrating  threads  attached  to 
one  end.  When  the  eggs  and  sperms  are  ripe  a single  sperm  passes 
down  to  the  egg  in  its  case.  The  egg  and  the  sperm  each  contains 
a still  more  microscopic  portion  called  the  nucleus  in  which,  it  is 
believed,  reside  hereditary  characteristics.  The  union  of  the  sperm 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


5 


with  the  egg  brings  about  a mingling  of  these  characteristics,  and 
is  called  fertilization. 

From  this  fertilized  egg  the  new  fern  grows. 

ANALYTICAL  KEY. 

It  is  customary  to  divide  the  plant  kingdom  into  four  groups: 
1.  The  Spermatophytes  or  Seed  Plants;  2.  The  Pteridophytes  or 
Fern  Plants;  3.  The  Bryophytes  or  Moss  Plants;  4.  The  Thallo- 
phytes  or  the  remaining  lower  forms. 

Sometimes  the  first  group  is  spoken  of  as  Phenogam,  meaning 
evident  marriage,  because  the  method  of  reproduction  is  clearly 
seen.  The  last  three  would  be  called  Cryptogams  or  hidden  mar- 
riage, because  by  the  earlier  botanist  the  reproduction  was  not  well 
understood,  although  it  is  now  perfectly  clear. 

Pteridophyte  is  a compound  of  two  Greek  words  meaning  fern 
and  plant.  This  group  includes  a number  of  plants  beside  the  true 
ferns  such  as  the  Horsetail  Rushes,  the  Club  Mosses  and  others,  but 
this  Bulletin  will  concern  itself  only  with  the  common  true  ferns 
of  Oregon.  Species  not  herein  described  will  be  appreciated  so  that 
they  may  be  included  at  another  time.  Send  a specimen  to  the 
Herbarium  of  the  University. 

The  use  of  the  key  is  based  on  a series  of  choices  and  elimina- 
tions. The  drawings  in  the  key  are  intended  to  make  clear  the 
possible  selections.  The  alternative  is  always  between  things  of 
the  same  order;  e.  g.,  the  first  choice  is  between  A and  AA,  then 
B or  BB,  and  so  on. 

Nearly  all  the  technical  words  are  explained  in  the  preceding 
description.  If  not,  a glossary  of  terms  is  to  be  found,  just  before 
the  index. 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


ANALYTICAL  KEY. 


A.  Fronds  distinctly  of  two  kinds. 

B.  Sporangia  borne  in  clusters  or  spikes, 
b.  Frond  simple. 

Ophioglossum 
Page  11 


bb.  Frond  pennately  divided  or 
compound. 

Botrychium 
Page  11 


BB.  Sporangia  borne  on  back  of 
modified  frond. 

b.  Frond  once  pinnate  or  pinnatifid. 

Struthiopteris 
Page  11 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


bb.  Frond  twice  or  three  times 
pinnate. 


Cryptogramma 
Page  11 


AA.  Fronds  all  alike,  sporangia  borne 
on  back  or  margin  of  frond. 

B.  Sori  covered  with  indusia. 

C.  Sori  marginal,  covered  with 
reflexed  portion  of  margin 
of  frond. 

d.  Indusium  continuous. 


e.  Fronds  usually  clustered, 

f.  Fronds  smooth. 


Pellaea 
Page  11 


ff.  Fronds  wooly. 

Cheilanthes 
Page  13 


ee.  Fronds  usually  solitary. 

Pteris 


Page  13 


d.  Indusium  discontinuous. 

Adiantum 
Page  13 


CC.  Sporangia  provided  with  special 
indusia. 

d.  Indusia  roundish. 

e.  Indusia  heart-shaped. 

Dryopteris 
Page  13 


X 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


eee.  Indusium  convex,  attached 
by  broad  vase  partly  under 
sorus. 

Filix 
Page  15 


eeee.  Indusium  inferior,  stellate. 

Woodsia 
Page  15 


dd.  Sori  linear. 

e.  Sori  parallel  to  midrib. 

W oodwardia 
Page  15 


ee.  Sori  oblique  to  midrib, 
f.  Fronds  pinnate, 
sori  oblong. 

Asplenium 
Page  15 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


9 


ff.  Fronds  bipinnate, 
sori  curved. 

Athyrium 
Page  17 


BB.  Sori  naked. 

C.  Sori  roundish;  not  usual- 
ly more  than  twice  as 
long  as  broad, 
d.  Fronds  bi-tripinnatifid 
or  ternate. 

Phegopteris 
Page  17 


CC.  Sori  linear. 


Ceropteris 
Page  17 


10 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


PARSLEY  FE'RN — ROCK  BRAKE  DEER  FERN.  ( Struthiopt&ris  spicant) 

( Crypto  gramma  acrostichoides) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


11 


OPHIOGLOSSUM.  Adder  Tongue. 

Sporangia  naked  and  borne  in  a simple  or  compound  spike,  when 
ripe  opening  by  a transverse  slit.  The  sterile  frond  simple. 

(The  scientific  name  is  composed  of  two  Greek  words,  snake  and 
tongue,  referring  to  the  simple  spike  of  sporangia.) 

Ophioglossum  vulgatum  L.  Found  in  Washington  and  California 
but  not  as  yet  reported  in  Oregon.  Probably  present. 

BOTRYCHIUM.  Grape  Fern.  Moonwort. 

Sporangia  same  as  in  ophioglossum  but  the  sterile  frond  divided 
or  compound. 

(From  a Greek  word  meaning  grapes,  because  of  grape-like  clus- 
ter of  sporangia.) 

Sterile  and  fertile  frond  distinct  from  the  base.  Common  in 
marshes  and  wet  ground.  B.  silaifolium  Presl. 

Sterile  and  fertile  frond  united  for  a considerable  distance.  As 
yet  only  reported  from  high  altitudes  in  Eastern  Oregon. 

B.  virginianum  (L.)  Swartz. 

STRUTHIOPTERIS.  Ostrich  Fern.  Deer  Fern. 

Fronds  of  two  kinds  but  the  fertile  evidently  composed  of  con- 
tracted pinnules  with  typical  sporangia  on  the  under  side.  Sterile 
frond  narrow,  pinnate  and  shorter  than  the  fertile. 

(From  the  Greek  struthos,  an  ostrich  and  pteris,  a fern.) 

Struthiopteris  spicant  (L.)  Weiss. 

Abundant  on  the  coast  and  in  the  mountains.  Occasionally  found 
in  other  parts  of  the  state. 

CRYPTOGRAMMA.  Rock  Brake.  Parsley  Fern. 

Fronds  of  two  kinds,  the  fertile  frond  of  evident  pinnules  whose 
in-rolled  margins  form  the  indusium.  Sterile  frond  twice  or  three 
times  pinnate. 

(From  Greek  cryptos,  hidden,  gramma,  a line,  referring  to  the 
arrangement  of  the  sporangia  in  lines  which  are  hidden  by  the 
indusium.) 

Found  growing  in  clefts  of  rocks.  C.  acrostichoides 

PELLA  FA.  Cliff  Brake. 

Sori  at  the  tips  of  veins,  when  mature  forming  a marginal  line; 
covered  by  an  indusium  formed  of  the  reflexed  margin  of  the 
frond.  Clustered,  growing  on  rocks  and  cliffs. 

(From  Greek  pellos,  meaning  dusky  or  dark  and  referring  to 
the  dark  color  of  the  stipe.) 

Fronds  once  pinnate,  pinnae  short-stalked  6-12  pairs.  High 
mountains.  P.  breweri  D.  C.  Eaton 

Fronds  twice  pinnate.  Stipes  purplish-brown.  Pinnae  several 
pairs,  pinnules  numerous.  As  yet  only  reported  from  South- 
ern Oregon.  P.  brachyptera  (Moore)  Baker 

Fronds  thrice  pinnate.  Stipes  densely  placed,  wiry,  dark  chest- 
nut-brown. Sometimes  a few  sterile  fronds  are  present. 

P.  densa  Hook.  Oregon  Cliff  Brake 


12 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


CLIFF  BRAKE.  (Pellaea  breweri)  CLIFF  BRAKE.  (Pellaea  densci.) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS  ' 


13 


PTERIS.  Brake.  Bracken. 

Fronds  thrice  pinnate.  Sori  on  the  edge  of  pinnules  forming 
an  unbroken  line.  Indusium  continuous  and  formed  by  the  in- 
curled  margin  of  frond.  Usually  solitary;  at  least  not  in  dense 
clusters. 

(From  Greek  pteros,  a wing,  which  became  to  mean  a fern  from 
the  wing-like  structure  of  frond  of  fern. 

P.  aquilina  L.  The  Eagle  Brake 

This  with  its  varieties  is  widely  distributed  throughout  North 
America  and  the  Old  World,  in  Oregon  often  becoming  a trou- 
blesome weed  in  the  fields. 

ADIANTUM.  Maidenhair. 

Frond  forking  by  twos.  Sori  on  margin  covered  by  a discon- 
tinuous indusium  formed  by  the  inrolled  edge  of  frond. 

(From  the  Greek  meaning  not  to  moisten.  Referring  to  the 
difficulty  of  wetting  the  fronds.  This  can  be  prettily  shown  by 
dipping  a frond  beneath  clear  water  and  noting  the  silvery  appear- 
ance due  to  air  on  the  frond  shut-in  by  the  water.)  A.  pedatum 

Rich  moist  forests  everywhere  in  the  state. 

CHEILANTHES.  Lip  Fern.  Lace  Fern. 

Sori  near  the  ends  of  veins,  roundish  at  first  but  running  some- 
what together  in  age.  Indusium  of  reflexed  margin  of  sorus  dis- 
continuous or  continuous.  Under  side  of  frond  in  our  species 
densely  covered  with  a thick,  wooly,  rust-colored  mat  of  hairs. 

(From  Greek  cheilos,  a lip,  and  anthos,  a flower,  alluding  to  the 
lip-like  indusium.)  C.  gracillima  D.  C.  Eaton  Lace  Fern 

High  mountains. 

DRYOPTERIS.  Shield  Fern. 

Sori  round,  mostly  on  the  back  of  veins.  Indusium  heart-shaped 
with  a crease  or  depression  on  one  edge  by  which  it  is  attached  to 
the  frond. 

(From  Greek  dry  as,  a tree,  especially  an  oak  tree  because  most 
of  these  tnrive  best  in  the  woods.) 

The  pinnules  or  ultimate  leaflets  all  deeply  divided  or  pinnatifid, 
the  margins  usually  spiny.  Fronds  more  or  less  triangular, 
broadest  at  base.  Common  in  shady,  moist  woods,  especially 
at  sea  level.  Edges  of  indusium  with  or  without  gland-like 
hairs.  D.  sninulosa  dilatata  (L.)  Ktz.  Wood  Fern 

The  ultimate  pinnules  not  deeply  divided  or  at  least  only  the 
lower  ones. 

The  indusium  with  minute  gland-like  hairs  on  upper  side. 
Pinnules  often  doubly  saw-toothed  and  spiny.  Texture 
less  delicate  than  the  preceding.  Common  in  Western 
Oregon.  D.  rigida  (Hoffm.)  Und. 

The  indusium  without  gland-like  hairs.  Margin  of  pinnules 
often  but  slightly  toothed  and  usually  not  as  spiny.  Sori 
nearer  midvein  than  the  margin.  Common. 

D.  filix-mas  (L.)  Scott.  Male  fern 


14 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


MATDEN  HAIR.  (Adianium  pedatum)  BRAKE.  (Pieris  aquilina) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


15 


POLYSTICHUM.  Sword  Fern. 

Evergreen  ferns  growing  in  clusters.  Sori  round  generally 
borne  on  the  back  of  the  veins.  Indusium  shield-shaped  and  fixed 
at  the  center  only. 

(From  Greek  poly,  many,  and  stikes,  a row.  Some  species  have 
sori  in  more  than  one  row.) 

Fronds  once  pinnate. 

Leaf-stalk  long.  Under  favorable  conditions  the  frond 
reaches  a height  of  four  feet  or  more.  The  pinnae  are 
curved  like  a sword  and  have  a single  large  tooth  on  the 
upper  edge  of  each  pinna  near  the  midrib.  The  margins 
of  the  pinnae  are  beset  with  bristle-pointed  teeth.  One  of 
our  most  common  forms.  P.  munitum  (Kaulf.)  Presl. 
Leaf-stalk  short.  Much  resembling  the  former  but  not  as 
tall.  Pinnae  more  closely  placed.  More  common  in  East- 
ern Oregon.  P.  lonchitis  (L.)  Roth.  Holly  Fern 

Fronds  once  pinnate  but  pinnae  pinately  lobed  at  base.  Moun- 
tains. P.  scopulinum  (Eaton)  Maxon 

FILIX.  Bladder  Fern. 

Sori  roundish,  on  the  back  of  free  veins  which  are  not  parallel 
to  the  midrib.  Indusium  inconspicuous,  hooded,  attached  partly 
under  the  sorus,  soon  withering  away. 

Common  throughout  the  state.  F.  fragilis  (L.)  Und. 

WOODSIA. 

Sori  round,  produced  on  free,  simple  forking  veins.  Indusium 
attached  wholly  under  the  sorus,  breaking  and  becoming  star-like 
and  soon  hidden  beneath  the  sporangia  and  disappearing. 

(Named  after  Woods,  an  English  botanist.) 

We  have  two  species  in  Oregon  which  are  difficult  to  separate. 
Under  side  of  frond,  midrib  and  stipe  covered  with  soft  flattened 
hairs.  W.  scouplina  D.  C.  Eaton.  Rocky  Mountain  Woodsia. 
Frond,  midrib  and  stipe  smooth.  Divisions  of  the  indusium  finer 
than  the  preceding  and  consisting  of  few  beaded  hairs. 

W.  oregana  D.  C.  Eaton.  Oregon  Woodsia 

W OOD  W AUDI  A . Chain  Fern. 

Sori  oblong,  in  chain-like  rows, on  veins  parallel  to  width  of  pinnae. 
(Named  for  Woodward,  an  English  botanist.) 

The  Oregon  form  is  found  mostly  in  the  Southern  part  of  the 
state  and  is  one  of  the  most  magnificient  of  North  American 
ferns.  W.  radicans  (L.)  Sm. 

ASPLEN1 UM.  Spleen  wort. 

Fronds  once  pinnate.  Sori  linear,  oblong,  oblique  to  midrib  of 
pinna,  straight  and  attached  to  the  upper  side  of  a vein. 

Rachis  or  midrib  brown.  Fronds  linear,  evergreen.  Sori  oblong, 
commonly  three  on  each  side  of  the  midvein.  Moist  rocks  and 
shaded  cliffs.  A.  trichomanes  L.  Maiden-hair  spleenwort 
Rachis  or  midrib  green.  Only  rarely  seen  and  at  high  altitudes. 

A.  viride  Hudson 


16 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


iACE  FERN.  (CheilantTies  gracillima)  WOOD  FERN.  (Dryopteris  spirmlosa) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


17 


ATHYRIUM. 

Fronds  bi-pinnate,  usually  tapering  in  both  directions  and  widest 
at  middle.  Sori  oblong  and  oblique  to  midvein. 

In  moist  ground,  becomes  dwarfed  at  high  altitudes. 

A.  cyclosorum  Rupr.  Western  Lady-fern 

FHEGOPTERIS.  Beech  Fern. 

Sori  always  without  indusia,  round.  Frond  twice  or  thrice  pin- 
nate or  pinnatifid,  or  tenate. 

(From  the  Greek  phagus,  an  oak  or  beech,  and  pteris,  a fern.) 

Fronds  twice  pinnate,  pinnules  pinnatifid.  Cliffs  at  high  eleva- 
tions. P.  alpestris  (Hoppe)  Mott.  Alpine  Beech  Fern 

Fronds  thrice  divided,  each  division  pinnate  and  the  pinnae  pin- 
natifid. Pinnae  on  the  lower  side  the  larger.  Common  in 
damp  woods.  P.  dryopteris  (L.)  Fee.  Oak  Fern 

POLYPODIUM.  The  Polypod. 

Sori  always  naked,  roundish.  Fronds  of  our  species  once  pinnate 
or  pinnatifid. 

(From  Greek  poly,  many,  podos,  foot,  referring  to  its  numerous 
underground  stems.) 

Fronds  thick,  leathery  and  broad,  divisions  extend  almost  to  mid- 
rib. At  the  coast  on  decaying  logs  or  living  trees.  Root- 
stock  creeping.  P.  scouleri  Hook.  Leather-leaf  Polypod 

Division  of  frond  longer  and  more  or  less  acute.  Rootstock 
creeping.  Very  common  and  varied.  Often  found  on  maple 
trees.  R.  occidentalis  (Hook)  Maxon.  Licorice  Fern 

Divisions  of  frond  short  and  blunt.  Sori  large,  nearly  covering 
the  under  side  of  pinnae.  Prefers  the  rocks  of  mountains. 

P.  hesperium  Maxon.  Mountain  Polypod 

CERO  PTERIS. 

Indusium  wanting,  sori  elongated,  following  course  of  the  vein- 
lets,  often  branched. 

(From  Greek  ceros,  meaning  wax,  and  pteris,  a fern.) 

Fronds  pinnate,  lower  pinnae  bi-pannatifid.  Under  surface  cov- 
ered with  a yellowish  dust  passing  to  white.  Sporangia  borne 
in  long  lines  breaking  through  the  powder  when  ripe.  On 
rocky  hillsides. 

C.  triangularis  (Kaulf.)  Und.  Golden-back  Fern.  Tri- 
angularis is  in  reference  to  the  triangular-shaped  leaf. 


18 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


SHIELD  FERN.  (Dryopteris  rigida)  SWORD  FERN.  (Polystichum  munitum) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS  ’ 


19 


SYNONYMS. 

The  fern  names  used  in  this  bulletin  appear  in  black  face  type. 
Some  have  been  described  under  other  names,  which  appear  in  italic. 

Botryehium  virginianum.  (L.)  Sw.  Schrad. 

Osmunda  virginiana — L.  Sp.  PL  2. 

Botryehium  silaifolium. 

Botryehium  occidentale — Underw.  Bull.  Torr. 

Ceropteris  triangularis.  (Kaulf.) 

Gymno gramme  triangularis — ( Kaulf. ) 

Gymnopteris  triangularis — Underwood. 

Dryopteris  spinulosa.  (Hoffm.)  Underw.  Native  ferns. 
Polypodium  dilatum — (Hoffm.)  Deutsch. 

Aspidium  spinulosum — (Hook.)  Brit. 

Dryopteris  filix-mas.  (L.)  Schott. 

Polypodium  filix-mas — L.  Sp. 

Aspidium  filix-mas — Sw.  Schrad. 

Filix  fragilis.  Underwood. 

Poly  podium  fragile — L.  Sp. 

Cystopteris  fragilis — Bernh.  Schrad. 

Pellala  densa.  (Brack.)  Hook.  Sp. 

Onychium  densum — Brack. 

Phegopteris  dryopteris.  (L.)  Fee. 

Polypodium  dryopteris — L.  Sp. 

Phegopteris  alpestris.  (Hoppe.)  Mett. 

Polypodium  alpestre — Hoppe. 

Polypodium  occidentale.  (Hook.)  Maxon. 

Polypodium  ulgare  occidentale — Hook. 

Poly  podium  falcatum — Kellog. 

Polypodium  scouleri.  Hook.  & Grev. 

Polypodium  pachyphyllum — D.  C.  Eaton 
Polystichum  lonchitis.  (L.)  Roth. 

Aspidium  lonchitis — Sw.  Schrad. 

Polystichum  scopulinum.  (Eaton.),  Maxon. 

Aspidium  aculeatum  scopulinum — Eaton. 

Polystichum  munitum.  (Kaulf.) 

Aspidium  munitum — Kaulf.  Enum. 

Struthiopteris  spicant.  (L.)  Weiss. 

Osmunda  spicant — L.  Sp. 

Lomaria  spicant — Desv.  Mag. 

Blechnum  doodiodes — Hook. 

Woodsia  oregana.  Eaton. 

Woodsia  obtusa  lyalii — Hook. 


20 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


^■wwiiWK  *■ 


HOLLY  FE’RN.  (Polystichum  lonchitis)  POLYSTICHUM  SCOPLLINUM 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


21 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Eaton — Ferns  of  North  America. 

Underwood — Our  Native  Ferns. 

Piper — Check-list  of  Flora  of  the  State  of  Washington. 
Clute — Fern  Bulletin. 

Britton  and  Brown — Flora  of  Northern  States. 

Waters — Ferns. 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


BLADDER  FERN.  (Filix  fragilis)  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  WOODSIA.  (Woodsia  scopulina) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


23 


GLOSSARY. 


Fertile — Bearing  spores. 

Frond — Leaf  of  a fern. 

Gland — A cell,  usually  a hair,  that  yields  a secretion. 

Habit — General  appearance  of  a plant. 

Habitat — The  locality  in  which  a plant  grows;  also  its  distribution. 
Indusium — The  thin  membrane  covering  a fruit  dot. 

Inferior — Attached  below;  said  of  an  indusium  below  the  sporangia. 
Linear — Long  and  narrow,  with  parallel  margins. 

Pinna — First  division  of  a pinnate  frond. 

Pinnate — Divided  into  leaflets  along  a common  stalk. 

Pinnatifid — When  the  divisions  do  not  extend  to  the  rachis  or  midrib. 
Rachis — The  continuation  of  the  stipe  through  a compound  frond. 
Reflexed — Abruptly  bent  or  turned  backward. 

Rhizome — Underground  stem. 

Simple — Not  lobed  or  forked. 

Sorus — A fruit  dot. 

Sporangium — A spore  case. 

Sterile — Not  bearing  spores. 

Stellate — Star-shaped. 

Stipe — Stem  of  a frond. 

Superior — Higher,  applied  to  indusia  that  are  attached  above  the 
sorus. 

Ternate — Having  three  main  segments. 


24 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


CHAIN  FERN.  (Wooilwardia  radicans)  MAIDEN  HAIR — SPLEENWORT 

(Asplenium  trichomanes ) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


25 


LADY  FERN.  (Athyrium  cycloso'rum)  ALPINE  BE'ECH  FERN.  (Phegopteris  alpestris) 


26 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


OAK  FERN.  (Phegopteris  dryopteris)  LEATHER-LEAF  POLYPOD.  (Polypodium  scouleri) 


THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


27 


LICORICE  FERN.  (Polypod. urn  occidental)  GOLD-HACKED  FERN.  (Ceropteris  triangularis) 


A POPULAR  DESCRIPTION  OF 


INDEX. 


Adiantum — 

pedatum  

Alpine  Beech  fern  

Asplenium — 

trichomanes  

viride  

Athyrium — 

cyclosorum  

Bladder  fern  

Botrychinm — 

silaifolium  

virgimana  

Brake  

Ceropteris — 

triangularis  

Chain  fern  

Cheilanthis — 

gracillima  

Cliff  Brake  

Cryptogramma — 

acrostichoides  

Deer  fern  

Dryopteris — 

filix-mas  

rigida  

spinulosa  

Filix — 

fragilis  

Gold-backed  fern  

Grape  fern  

Holly  fern  

Lace  fern  

Leather-leaf  Polypod  .. 

Licorice  fern  

Lady  fern  

Maiden  hair 

Maiden  hair  spleenwort 

Male  fern  

Mountain  Polypod  

Oak  fern  

Ophioglossum — • 

vulgatum  

Parsley  fern  


escrip- 

Illustra- 

tion 

tion 

13 

14 

17 

25 

15 

24 

15 

17 

25 

15 

22 

11 

2 

11 

2 

13 

14 

17 

27 

15 

24 

13 

16 

11 

12 

11 

10 

11 

10 

13 

13 

18 

13 

16 

15 

22 

17 

27 

11 

2 

15 

20 

13 

16 

17 

26 

17 

27 

17 

25 

13 

14 

15 

24 

13 

17 

17 

26 

11 

11 

10 

THE  COMMON  OREGON  FERNS 


29 


INDEX — Continued. 

Descrip-  Illustra- 
tion tion 

Pellaea — 

brachyptera  11 

breweri  11  12 

densa  11  12 

Phegopteris — 

alpestris  17  25 

dryopteris  17  26 

Polypodium — 

hesperium  17 

occidentale  17  27 

scouleri  17  26 

Polystichum — 

lemmoni  15 

lonchitis  15  20 

munitum  15  18 

scopulinum  15  20 

Pteris — 

aquilina  13  14 

Rock  Brake  11  10 

Rocky  mountain  Woodsia  15  22 

Shield  fern  13  18 

Struthiopteris — 

spicant  11  10 

Sword  fern  15  18 

Wood  fern  — 13  16 

Woodsia — 

oregana  - 15 

scopulina  - - 15  22 

Woodwardia — 

radicans  15  24 


